Fubnace fob heating slugs for the use of hatters



R. WILDMAN. Sad Iron Heater. 1

No; 14,298. v Patented Feb. 19,1356.

the expense for fuel and slugs.

UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE.

RUSSEL WILDMAN, OF-CHARLESTOWN, MASSACHUSETTS.

FURNACE FOR HEATING SLUGS FOR THE USE OF HATTERS, TAILORS, AND OTHERS.

Specification of Letters Patent No.

To all whom it may concern:

Be it known that I, RUssEL WILDMAN, of Charlestown, in the county of Middlesex and State of Massachusetts, have invented a new and useful Improvement on Furnaces for Heating Slugs or Heaters for the Use of Hat-Finishers, Clothes and Bonnet Pressers, &c.; and I do hereby declare that the following is a full, clear, and exact description of the construction and operation of the same. reference being had to the accompanying drawings, making a part of this specification, and to the letters of reference marked thereon, in which Figure 1 is a perspective view; Fig. 2 is an end elevation shown in section; Fig. 3 is a plan of the metal plate and shaft for raising it; and Fig. 4 is a plan of the fire box and grate.

The same letters refer to like parts in all the figures.

Solid irons (or flats) for finishing hats have been abandoned, since the introduction of silk hats, in consequence of the rough surface produced by placing the irons upon the fire to heat them. A hollow iron has therefore been substituted which is heated by a solid slug (or heater) of cast or wrought iron; the slug after I being sufficiently heated is placed within the hollow iron (or shell); a sufiicient heat is thereby obtained for finishing hats, &c. Muohdifficulty and expense has attended the heating of these slugs in consequence of the bad arrangement of the furnace in which they are heated. The common mode of heating is to place the slugs upon the surface of a coal fire, unprotected from the current of cold air which is constantly passing to supply the draft, and consequently chills the surface of the fire and prevents the slugs from heating. By the furnaces now in general use another great loss is sustained, viz., the entire loss of the carbonic gas generated by-the combustion of the coal. To counteract the influence of the air and make up for the loss of gas, a strong fire mustbe kept up, which consumes much fuel; and in consequence of the chilling effect of the draft the practice is to cover the slugs slightly with coals, the effect is to melt most of the slugs, making the expense for fuel and slugs a large item in the manufactory. My improvement obviates all the described difiiculties saving full one half in To enable others skilled in the art to make 14,298, dated February 19, 1856.

and use my invention I will proceed to describe its construction and operation.

The outside case, a, is made of iron, or some suitable material, and of a convenientform and capacity; it is divided into three compartments, viz, the ash pit, b, the fire box, 0, and the chamber, (Z, above the fire box. In the top of the chamber there is a pipe, 0, to convey off the smoke, and directly in front there is a large door, j", which gives access to the chamber and also to the fire box; the bottom of the door is about level with the top of the fire box. In the lower part of the fire box, and directly above the ash pit, there is a horizontal grate, g 9, supported by a horizontal rod, h, or any analogous device; this rod extends the whole length of the grate and each end of it through an orifice in the case; on one end of this rod, outside of the case, there is an arm, 2', for the purpose of turning the rod together with the grate so as to let the coals fall into the ash pit when desired.

The fire box, above the grate, is made of a suitable capacity to contain the requisite quantity of coal for heating the slugs. At the top of the fire box there is a narrow flange, j, projecting from the inside of the case, horizontally, all around. There is a large metal plate, is, fitted to lie upon this flange, which covers the fire box and closes the entire surface above the fire, stops the draft and prevents the gas from escaping, thereby making a great saving in the expense for fuel by consuming the gas. To raise and lower this plate a shaft, Z, is placed horizontally across the back side of the chamber and a little above the plate; the shafts is supported at each end by extending through an orifice in the case. On this shaft, at or near the center of its length, inside of the chamber, there is a fixed arm, m, extending forward, at right angles with the shaft, nearly to the front edge of the plate, the outer end of which, is connected to the plate by a link, n. On one end of the shaft, outside of the case, there is a fixed lever, 0, extending forward a little past the front corner of the case; near the outer end of this lever there is a staple, p, to which a cord, 9, is attached passing over a pulley, r, in a stand, 8, secured to the top of the case near the back corner; on the other end of this cord there is a balance weight, 2?, sufficient to balance the plate and hold it in any required position. By elevating the end of the lever the shaft Will turn together with the fixed arm and raise the front edge of the plate, the back edge of the plate always resting on the flange as represented in Figs. 1 and 2.

When the fire is to be kindled the plate is to be raised and the coal introduced to the fire box, the door is then to be closed and the plate left in an elevated position until the coal is sufliciently ignited; the slugs are then placed upon the coals and the plate closed down and left in that position While the slugs are heating. In this Way the fire is kept at a suitable temperature for heating the slugs Without danger of melting them, and at the same time the gas generated by the combustion of the coal, being confined RUSSEL WILDMAN.

Witnesses: v

CHAS. W. HAwKEs, ABRAHAM A. DAMC. 

